Device for mounting solar modules

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for mounting solar modules/solar panels on props that are introduced into the ground of the mounting location, wherein supports that can be connected on top of or on the props are arranged by means of fastening means that allow vertical compensation and/or lateral compensation for deviations of the introduced props from the perpendicular, wherein the fastening means comprise a rail ( 3 ) that can be connected to the prop ( 2 ), a T-shaped or L-shaped or U-shaped connecting flange ( 4 ) with at least one connector ( 8 ) for a support ( 5 ), and a rocker bearing ( 6 ) that allows the connection between the rail ( 3 ) and the connecting flange ( 4 ) to be established (FIG.  2 ).

The invention relates to a device for mounting solar modules/solarpanels using props driven into the ground, preferably crash-barrierprops having a Σ-cross-section. The device is particularly suitable formounting solar modules in such a way that the solar modules are arrangedin rows and next to each other and are inclined to the south.

Supporting structures for solar modules/solar panels using props areknown.

A first group uses a number of props that are connected to each other ontheir heads by means of a support on which the solar modules are thenarranged directly next to each other (DE 203 03 257 U1) or usingtransverse supports running from north to south (DE 203 19 065 U1).

In the direct arrangement, one uses, on account of (among other things)the wider rest, inclined crash-barrier profiles, or the support isformed of two supports that are connected to each other in parallel andby means of webs, wherein the attachment on the heads is established inthe region of the webs (DE 20 2006 011 393 U1).

The supports or webs are attached to the props by means of bows orangles that allow vertical and lateral adjustment so that positionalinaccuracies of the driven-in props can be compensated for and thesupport can be mounted in a horizontal position. The angle ofinclination for optimal insolation is also predetermined by the shape ofthe bows or angles.

One special disadvantage of this group of supporting structures is itsinstability under external loading (wind, snow) on account of the factthat there is only one row of props. Further, the prefabricated bows orangles provide only limited flexibility with respect tolocation-specific adjustment.

A second group of supporting structures uses double rows of props thatprovide a mounting base for the solar modules/solar panels by means ofnorth-south supports and/or transverse supports (DE 10 2005 015 346 A1,U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,631).

Here as well, the supports are attached to the props by means of angles.In so far as the issue of possible compensation during mounting isaddressed at all, it concerns oblong holes in the screwed connections inthis case, too.

The object of the invention is to suggest a form of the supportingstructure for solar modules that provides a high degree of possiblecompensation for deviations caused by the driving-in of the props,wherein the technical means used therefor are to be usable universally,i.e. not specifically for a particular location.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1; advantageousrealisations are subject matter of the subclaims.

The inventive device for mounting solar modules/solar panels on propsthat are introduced into the ground of the mounting location, whereinsupports that can be connected on top of or on the props are arranged bymeans of fastening means that allow vertical compensation and/or lateralcompensation for deviations of the introduced props from theperpendicular, provides the following fastening means:

-   -   a rail that can be connected to the prop,    -   a T-shaped or L-shaped or U-shaped connecting flange with at        least one connector for a support for solar modules, and    -   a rocker bearing that allows the connection between the rail and        the connecting flange to be established.

The advantageous arrangement of a rocker bearing provides, in a simpleand cost-effective way, an almost universal possibility of compensatingfor deviations from the perpendicular arrangement of the respectiveprop.

In one advantageous embodiment, the rail has, in the upper end portionthat is remote from the prop, a seat for the outer ring of the rockerbearing, and the inner ring of the rocker bearing inserted in the seatcan be connected to the connecting flange.

Of course, the arrangement can also be designed the other way round inthat a leg or a web of the connecting flange has a seat for the outerring of the rocker bearing, and the inner ring of the rocker bearinginserted in the seat can be connected to the rail.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the T-shaped connectingflange is designed as a forked flange with two webs whose clearance isdimensioned such that each of the webs reaches, on the face, over theinner ring of the rocker bearing and can be connected to the inner ring,preferably by means of a screw-bolt-joint.

It is understood that the legs or webs of the connecting flange restingon the inner ring of the rocker bearing must still be spaced from therail so that the possibility of adjusting provided by the rocker bearingcan be made use of. In other words, the width of the inner ring of therocker bearing must be greater than the thickness of the rail in thisregion.

Preferably, rocker bearings with a spherically curved sliding pairbetween the inner ring and the outer ring are used. Since the slidingpair is basically used only once (during mounting), it is possible touse a rocker bearing that requires absolutely little maintenance and isnot designed for permanent dynamic load.

A further possibility of compensating is provided by the fact that therail can be vertically adjustably connected to the prop, wherein oneadvantageous realisation provides that the rail is designed, at least inthe region where it is attached to the prop, as a hollow profile and/ora profile with external longitudinal webs or external longitudinal slotsso that it is slidable over and/or into the prop or parts of the prop.

A further embodiment that is illustrated in the drawings provides thatthe rail is divided into a first sectional rail for establishing theconnection to the prop, and a second sectional rail for establishing theconnection to the connecting flange, wherein the two sectional rails canbe connected to each other.

Preferably, the props are arranged in double rows, wherein the supportsarranged on the connecting flanges each run from north to south, i.e.connect two props to each other, and these supports are connected toeach other by continuous transverse supports on which the solar modulesare arranged.

The invention will be explained on the basis of exemplary embodiments.The drawings show:

FIG. 1: the individual component parts of the device;

FIG. 2: the divided rail;

FIG. 3: the connecting-flange arrangement; and

FIG. 4: the connecting-flange fixture.

FIG. 1 outlines the essential component parts of the device for mountingsolar modules/solar panels.

A prop 2, preferably a crash-barrier prop having a i-cross-section, isdriven into the ground 1 of the mounting location. The prop 2 isconnected to the support 5 by means of fastening means that comprise:

-   -   a rail 3 that can be connected to the prop 2,    -   a T-shaped or L-shaped or U-shaped connecting flange 4 with at        least one connector 8 for the support 5, and    -   a rocker bearing 6 that allows the connection between the rail 3        and the connecting flange 4 to be established.

The rocker bearing 6 is arranged, in the upper end portion of the rail 3that is remote from the prop 2, in a seat for the outer ring of therocker bearing. The inner ring of the rocker bearing 6 inserted in theseat can be connected to the connecting flange 4.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 illustrate the details of a preferred embodiment of thedevice. Here, the rail 3 with the connecting flange 4 for establishingthe connection to the support 5 is designed as a divided rail with aconnecting rail 3.1 for the prop 2 and a sectional rail 3.2 forestablishing the connection to the connecting flange 4. The sectionalrail 3.1 for establishing the connection to the prop 2 is designed as ahollow profile and/or a profile with external longitudinal webs orexternal longitudinal slots 9 so that it is slidable over and/or intothe prop 2 or parts of the prop 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting sectional rail 3.1 is designed as ahollow profile with lateral slots 9 that are dimensioned such that, whenthe connecting sectional rail 3.1 is put on the E-shaped prop 2, theinward cranked i-legs of the prop 2 engage this slot 9 so that a lateralform closure between the connecting sectional rail 3.1 and the prop 2 isestablished. The sectional rail 3.1 for establishing the connection tothe prop 2 is vertically adjustably screwed on the prop 2.

The sectional rail 3.2 is put in a hollow profile of the connecting rail3.1 and screwed thereon. This can take place in a rigid position that isfixed by the bores and stops. However, it is also possible to make useof the degrees of freedom: pivoting about the connecting bolt 10 and/orvertical adjustment by using an oblong hole.

The sectional rail 3.2 contains the rocker bearing 6 whose inner ringprojects above the sectional rail 3.2 on the outside and can beconnected to the connecting flange 4.

It can be clearly seen in FIG. 4 that the T-shaped connecting flange 4is designed as a forked flange with two webs 4.2, 4.3 whose clearance isdimensioned such that each of the webs 4.2, 4.3 reaches, on the face,over the inner ring of the rocker bearing 6 and can be connected to theinner ring, preferably by means of a screw-bolt-joint 7.

Thus, the connecting flange 4 can be inclined in all directions withrespect to a horizontal plane, thereby compensating for deviations fromthe perpendicular arrangement of the props 2. Level differences can becompensated for by longitudinal displacement of the connecting sectionalrail 3.1 with respect to the prop 2.

The supports 5 are attached by means of the connectors 8 that are boresin the beam 4.1 of the T-shaped connecting flange 4.

Since the function of the rocker bearing/s 6 of the individual props 2continues to exist after establishing the screwed connection to theconnecting flanges 4, the connecting flanges 4 are automatically alignedwith the flange facing of the support 5 when the connectors 8 aretightened. When several props 2, supports 5 and transverse supports areused, the whole stand aligns in itself and ensures a continuous and evenrest for the solar modules that are to be arranged in rows and next toeach other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 ground-   2 prop-   3 rail-   3.1 sectional rail for establishing the connection to the prop-   3.2 sectional rail for establishing the connection to the connecting    flange-   4 connecting flange-   4.1 head beam-   4.2 web-   4.3 web-   5 support-   6 rocker bearing-   7 screwed connection-   8 connector-   9 slot-   10 connecting bolt

1. A device for mounting solar modules/solar panels on props that areintroduced into the ground of the mounting location, wherein supportsthat can be connected on top of or on the props are arranged by means offastening means that allow vertical compensation and/or lateralcompensation for deviations of the introduced props from theperpendicular, wherein the fastening means comprise: a rail (3) that canbe connected to the prop (2), a T-shaped or L-shaped or U-shapedconnecting flange (4) with at least one connector (8) for a support (5),and a rocker bearing (6) that allows the connection between the rail (3)and the connecting flange (4) to be established.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the rocker bearing (6) has an inner ring and anouter ring, and wherein the rail (3) has, in the upper end portion thatis remote from the prop (2), a seat for the outer ring of the rockerbearing (6), and wherein the inner ring of the rocker bearing (6)inserted in the seat can be connected to the connecting flange (4). 3.The device according to claim 1, wherein the rocker bearing (6) has aninner ring and an outer ring, and wherein a leg or a web of theconnecting flange (4) has a seat for the outer ring of the rockerbearing (6), and the inner ring of the rocker bearing (6) inserted inthe seat can be connected to the rail (3).
 4. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the rocker bearing (6) has an inner ring and an outerring, and wherein the T-shaped connecting flange (4) is designed as aforked flange with two webs (4.2, 4.3) whose clearance is dimensionedsuch that each of the webs (4.2, 4.3) reaches, on the face, over theinner ring of the rocker bearing (6) and can be connected to the innerring.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rocker bearing (6)has an inner ring and an outer ring, and wherein the rocker bearing (6)has a spherically curved sliding pair between the inner ring and theouter ring.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rail (3) isdivided into a first sectional rail (3.1) for establishing theconnection to the prop (2), and a second sectional rail (3.2) forestablishing the connection to the connecting flange (4), and whereinthe two sectional rails can be connected to each other.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the connection between the sectional rail(3.1) for establishing the connection to the prop (2) and the sectionalrail (3.2) for establishing the connection to the connecting flange (4)is provided with at least one degree of freedom during establishing theconnection.
 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rail (3) orthe sectional rail (3.1) for establishing the connection to the prop (2)can be vertically adjustably connected to the prop (2).
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the rail (3) or the sectional rail (3.1)for establishing the connection to the prop (2) is designed as a hollowprofile and/or a profile with external longitudinal webs or externallongitudinal slots (9) so that it is slidable over and/or into the prop(2) or parts of the prop (2).
 10. The device according to claim 6,wherein the sectional rail (3.2) for establishing the connection to theconnecting flange (4) can be inserted into the hollow profile of thesectional rail (3.1) for establishing the connection to the prop (2).11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connector (8) consistsof one or several bore/s in the free web of the L-profile or in the headbeam (4.1) of the T-profile of the connecting flange (4) with bolts thatcan be inserted therein.
 12. A solar array comprising solar modulesarranged on a device according to claim 1, wherein the props (2) arearranged in double rows, each support (5) runs from north to south, andthe supports (5) are connected to each other by continuous transversesupports on which the solar modules are arranged.
 13. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the rocker bearing (6) has an inner ringand an outer ring, and wherein the T-shaped connecting flange (4) isdesigned as a forked flange with two webs (4.2, 4.3) whose clearance isdimensioned such that each of the webs (4.2, 4.3) reaches, on the face,over the inner ring of the rocker bearing (6) and can be connected tothe inner ring by means of a screw-bolt-joint.